Monday, June 24, 2013

'Millions of Somalis depend on remittances from the diaspora, but banks are wary about lack of controls over the flow of funds''.Mark Tran

- Somalis have expressed their fear that Barclays's decision to close its accounts with most remittance companies will cut a financial lifeline to millions of people in Somalia. Barclays says it doesn't want to do business with firms that lack adequate controls to monitor where their money is coming from and going to. Academics and Somalis in Somalia and the diaspora have written to Mark Simmonds, a minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), asking the UK government to work with British banks to find a durable solution. Remittances that support an estimated 40% of the population of Somalia, about 3.8m people, are at stake, they argue.

- Even as a political scientist, sovereignty is not something that captures a lot of my attention in the course of a normal day. But when I spend time in Somaliland, it's inescapable, and what it means to be seen – or not seen – as a state by the rest of the world is heatedly debated by people from all walks of life. Somaliland proclaimed its independence from Somalia in 1991 but has never been officially recognised by any state despite exercising a reasonable level of territorial control and internal political legitimacy.

- In Ainabo, about 400km from the Somaliland capital Hargeisa, half of the population is comprised of internal refugees displaced by conflict and drought. Hassan Sa’ed, the mayor of Oog, a small town within Ainabo, says the resources in the area have been strained by the influx of the IDPs. “Our main needs are water and pasture,” he said. “But we, the host community, and the IDPs are also in dire need of health and educational facilities, and a means of earning a livelihood.

“We know the government has an obligation to provide for its people,” the mayor added, “but it is weak. Without international recognition, it is hard to predict how long it will take the government to provide basic needs to the citizens.”

Sunday, June 23, 2013

- Kimberly Law, a graduate nurse from Penticton, will head for Somaliland later this summer where she is volunteering her time and nursing skills as part of Nurses for Edna, in The Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Hargeisa, Somaliland

Local residents, well-wishers and supporters can join the Penticton nurse next Saturday, June 29 at The Barley Brew Mill Pub in Penticton for an evening of fun and music for a great cause. All proceeds will be dontated towards deferring the cost of Law's foray into Somaliland. Door prizes begin at 5PM, Food (beef, chicken and veggies burgers) at 6PM and live music begins at 8PM.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

- When he rolls into a gas station to fill his tank, Barkhad Dahir doesn’t get out of his car. He punches a few buttons on his cellphone and within seconds he has paid for the fuel. With the same quick keystrokes on his phone, he pays for virtually everything he needs: groceries at the supermarket, a few oranges from a market stall, a shoeshine on the street, a cup of sweet milky tea from a café, and even, if he wants, an afternoon’s worth of khat, a mild drug favoured by many Somalis.

“Everyone here has his own bank, with easy access and no restrictions,” boasts Mr. Dahir, a local journalist. “Even lying in bed, you can be paying your bills.”

''If Mogadsiho refuses to recognize us (Somaliland) then this might lead to military confrontation in the long run that would inflict heavy losses on both sides''. Prof. Abdi

- Is recognition a political or legal issue? The answer would be: it is both ways indeed. However, in my view, it is much more political than legal. In this context, the politics we are talking about is foreign policy whereas the law we are talking about is international law. They both interact in a very dynamic way to such an extent that it would often render international law unethical, double-standard and immoral. Some times, you might, as an observer, come up to a conclusion that what we call international law—perse– does not exist, but just mere super power game.

- The affiliation that exists between Somaliland and Ethiopia is historical and unbreakable, politically, socially and economically. A brave man always knows the way, no matter how intricate the roads. Somaliland will not succumb to any pressure aimed at fracturing the mutual relations of fraternity and neighbourliness. Our destiny is knotted together, and no external force can break this bond of friendship and solidarity. It is at difficult times that you learn your foe from your friend. Ethiopia has offered bases to the Somali National Movement (SNM) during the long and bitter struggle against the brutal regime of Siad Bare; hosted and welcomed our refugees with distinct hospitality at the most difficult times of our history and remained steadfast and reliable partner with shoulder to shoulder support when we were weak and trying to make ends meet. This is necessitated by true collaboration and cooperation and as a result of convergence of interest.

- Dr. Mohamed Omar, the breakaway state's foreign minister, says that Wednesday's bomb-and-ground-assault by Al Shabaab should prompt the international community to rethink its vision for a united Somalia, while stressing the need to be 'vigilant' of the spread of Islamism across the Horn of Africa. The attack left at least 13 dead including four foreigners.

Wednesday's attack is the latest blow to harmony in Somalia's troubled capital, despite its government receiving recognition by the US and International Monetary Fund last year. Some 18,000 African Union forces are stationed in Mogadishu. But Al Shabaab, a terror group with close ties to Al Qaeda, still controls vast swathes of land around the city, enforcing its strict interpretation of Sharia on millions of Somalis.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

- Somaliland, on the Gulf of Aden in the Red Sea, is a major contrast to troubled Somalia, its southern neighbour. The people are fiercely protective of their sovereignty even though the international community has not recognised the country as an independent state. Since its breakaway from Somalia following the fall of Siad Barre’s government in 1991, Somaliland with a population of 3.5 million, has created working institutions such as the judiciary, the police, a functioning civil service. The country has maintained peace and has held five successive multiparty elections.

Somaliland’s links with the better-known Somalia are through language and religion, but the culture is different. Somalilanders are trying to balance maintaining their unique identity with borrowing a few things from their southern brothers. For example, while all vehicles are right hand drives, they still drive on the right side of the road like in the south — unusual anywhere in the world. Countries that drive on the left typically have right-hand drive cars, and vice versa.

- He did certainly listen and learned that Somaliland is not Somalia and in his words he was told by the elected representatives of the Somaliland people and by the Somaliland civil society: “They don’t think one size of UN will fit all”. It seems to me that Mr. Kay didn’t at first get that message correctly, but that same point was repeated and clearly elaborated to him by the President of the Republic of Somaliland, who told him ingenuously that Somaliland is not Somalia and a UNSOM office is neither necessary nor welcome in Somaliland soil – a very bold statement that a Somalia leader doesn’t have the courage to make in million years, even when the Lower Juba, a whole region of his country is fully and illegally occupied and is in the process of being annexed by Kenya. But so-called Somalia leaders are mirthfully quick to claim Somaliland territory.

- In December 2012, I had the honor of voluntarily traveling to the Edna Adan University Hospital Somaliland for two weeks to learn, understand, educate and care for women who had been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Additionally, my desire was to also use my skills as a nurse in any way that I could.

Prior to my trip to Somaliland, and even after my return to the U.S., my colleagues and friends would ask me why I chose to go there. My answer was that while I was doing research about FGM for my doctorate, I came across the hospital's website. After reading the website in detail, and viewing all of the online video clips about Edna that I could find, I felt the pull at my heart to go there and help. I was so intrigued by Edna, her passion for the people of Somaliland and her desire to eradicate FGM, that I knew I had to meet her.

'If Somaliland is to make a political arrangement with Mogadishu, she will be swallowed by the deep black hole in the south: the problems that afflict Somalia will move into the country, development activities will cease...'' Adan H Iman

- Despite pressure from the UN and some western countries, the elected leadership of Somaliland articulated a nuanced approach towards Somalia based on the fact that the two countries have two different political identities but share the same language, religion and culture- no negotiation on issues involving any political arrangement between the two countries but a desire to strengthen bilateral trade and cooperation on other areas of mutual interest such as fighting piracy and terrorism.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

- In November 2012 Somaliland took another step along its democratic journey by holding district and council elections again. This path is rarely straight-forward as the report by the International Election Observer (IEO) mission, released today, highlights. The report launch, taking place at University College London, is accompanied by a panel discussion and photo exhibition by Kate Stanworth who accompanied the IEOs.

At the invitation of Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission Progressio and the Development Planning Unit of University College London led a team of 50 International Election Observers (IEO), following previous observer missions in 2002, 2005 and 2010.

- International election observation mission to Somaliland’s local council elections, assembled by Progressio, University College London and Somaliland Focus (UK), launches final report highlighting the “swerves on the road” as Somaliland continues to drive its developing democracy forward

Six months on, the public release of the mission report notes that once again,Somalilanders displayed their dedication to the unique democratic spirit they have crafted from their challenging history. In particular, there was real progress in inclusion of youth and women: the election of 10 female candidates represents a huge step forward. Yet concerns expressed immediately following polling day—especially over observers’ reports of widespread attempts at multiple and underage voting—remain real.